Shoe wear



Dec. 1961 A. J. EVANS SHOE WEAR Filed May 25, 1960 ATTORNEYS 3,014,288 Patented Dec. i2 6,

United States Patent Office 3,014,288 SHOE WEAR Anthony J. Evans and Grace Evans, both of Box 14,

Wendell Depot, Mass. Filed May 25, 1960, Ser. No. 31,603 2 Claims. (Cl. 36-1) This invention relates to an article of foot wear such as aishoe, and" more particularly to an attachment or accessory for such a shoe.

The object of the invention 'is to provide an attachment for an article of footwear such as a shoe wherein the attachment of the pre'sent'invention will facilitate the placement of the foot into the shoe as for example when the shoe is being placed on the foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe attachment which incudes a member that is adapted to have a portion thereof arranged within a shoe and wherein the member includes'aportion which is adapted to be engaged by the heel of a persons foot and wherein the heel engaging portion has a construction or shape so that the heel willbe properly engaged or guided into the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe attachment which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the course of the following description,

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same. I

' FIGURE 1; 'is a vertical sectionalview taken through a'shoe with. the attachment of the present invention therein; and showing-the foot being insert'ed'in'to the shoe.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to'FIGURE 1 but showingthe foot inside of the-shoe.

3 FIGURE 3 is-a perspective view of the attachment per se. I I

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified attachment for a, shoe.

FIGURE.5 is afragmentary sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral indicates a portion of a conventional article of foot wear such as a shoe which includes the usual body portion or upper 11 as well as a sole 12, a heel portion 13 and a rearwardly disposed counter 14.

According to the present invention there is provided an attachment or accessory which is indicated generally by the numeral 15, and the attachment 15 is adapted to be used for facilitating the placement of the foot such as the foot 16 into the shoe such as the shoe 10. The attachment 15 comprises a first portion 17 which is arranged contiguous to the upper surface of the sole 12, and the first portion 17 may be secured to the sole 12 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a suitable glue, adhesive or the like. The first portion 17 includes a front rounded end 18 as well as curved or rounded side portions 19, FIGURE 3.

The attachment 15 further includes a second portion 20 which is arranged rearwardly of the first portion 17, and the second portion 20 is of generally rectangular shape and has a uniform width throughout its length, and the portions 17 and 20 are joined' or connected as for example by means of a fold or crease line 21.

The numeral 22 indicates a third portion which is arranged contiguous to the rear of the second portion 20, and the third portion 22 is connected to the second portion 20 by means of a fold or crease line 23, and there is provided cutouts or V-shaped recesses 24 adjacent the ends of the crease line 23. A back member 25 is arranged contiguous tothe rear lower surface of the third portion 22, and the back member 25 is secured to the third portion 22in any suitable manner, asffor example by means of adhesive, the back member 25 being provided with a lower tapered edge 26 which functions as a guiding surface so as to insure that the parts will not accidentally hang or catch as for exampleon the top of the counter 14. As shown in FIGURE 1, the

portion 17 is secured to the sole 12, but the portions 20 and 22 are free of attachment to the sole or other parts of the shoe so that the attachment can function in the desired manner.

Referring to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified shoe attachment which is indicated generally by the numeral 15', and the attachment 15' includes portions 20 and 22, and a back portion or back member 15 is secured behind the portion 22. It is to' be noted that the portion 22 has a generally concave or arcuatc configuration so as to conform heel of the foot 16. i I

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an attachment which is especially suitable for use with a shoe or other article of foot wear and where With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, and-- in particular as shown in FIGURES 1,2 "and 3 it will beseen that the front or first portion 17 has a'sha'p'e'f'oi configuration which conforms to the adjacent portion-of the sole 12, and the portion 17 is adapted; to be secured to the sole 12 as for example by means of ana'dhes'iv'e "or the like. The remaining portion of the attachment 15 is' free of any adhesive so that the remainingpo'rtiqn of the attachment 15 is unattached to the sole 'or other part of the shoe. When a foot such as the foot 16 -is being inserted in the shoe 10, and with the device 15 positioned as shown in FIGURE 1 for example, it will be seen that the back member 25 will extend upwardly along-with the rear or third portion 22 so that by placing theioot 16 down on top of the member 15 the foot will be readily guided into the shoe so that the parts can move from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 2, and wherein it will not be necessary to use a shoe horn for placing the foot into the shoe.

The lower edge of the back member 25 is tapered as indicated by the numeral 26 so as to provide a guiding surface which helps insure that the parts will not hang or catch on the upper end of the counter 14 and the position of the fold or crease lines 21 and 23 serve to insure that the portions can bend or fold in order to conform to the configuration of the shoe or foot as desired. The V-shaped recesses 24 adjacent the ends of the fold line 23 serve to insure that the portion 22 can readily pivot or flex with respect to the portion 20 and this construction serves to insure that the back as well as the lower portion of the heel of the foot will be properly engaged. In addition, the portion 22 as well as the portion or member 25 has a generally concave or armate shape so that it will snugly conform to the configuration of the heel of the foot.

In the modification of FIGURE 4, the portion 17 is omitted and the front end of the portion 20 may be suitably afiixed as for example by means of an adhesive to the upper portion of the sole of the shoe and the portion 22 as well as the member 25 will function in the same manner as described in connection with the attachment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diiferent shapes or sizes.

The portions 20 and 22 are of generally the same width, and the portion 22 is reinforced with the member 25 snugly to the' which-maybe madeofa suitable material such as plastic so as to insure that there will be a smoother sliding action. Not only does the attachment of the present invention act as a shoe horn but it also forms a complete protecting and comfortable pocket for the heel of thefoot. All of theportion 20 is close to the heel of the foot, and down-- wardmovement automatically places .all of the wear on the attachment. Theattach'ment of the, present inven-r tio'n assumes the shape of the heel of the foot and adds .to support of the, same and extra space is leftin the heel of the shoe. The'cup-like shape or concave -v shape of the portion conforms to the configuration of the heel of. the foot 16Iand this configurationadds to the heel coma ion, The, tapered edge 26 insures thatithere will be no. edg .to attachon the counter and also serves to insure that there will be no bulge on the bottom.

The present invention is thus an addition to. ashoe whichacts as a shoe horn so as to facilitate .the sliding of the foot into the shoe and it would help save the counters and backs of shoes from becomingbroken. and wherein there, will be less wear on socksandwherein the attachmentwill provide a comfortable individual mold to the shape. of vthe persons foot. The notches or recesses 24 permit the portion 22 to bend or flex with respect-to the portion-20. The line 21 also functions as-a pivot line and wherein the portion 20 can pivot or flex with vrespect to-the portions 17. The portions 22 and20are free .totlex lwith respect to the portion 17 which, is secured to the sole, and when the modification of FIGUREA is being used, ,the.ifront;end of the portion 20 maybe. secured to: the sole. With the partsarranged as shownimFIGURE 1;. it will beiseen that they heel will be held firmly and properlyso that-when slidingvthe. foot-into position the; device-acts asa shoehorn. With-the foot in theshoe as shown-inFIGURE 2, thedevice actsas alining for the. bottom of the foot and the back of the heel. When being worn as-shown in FIGURE 2, it shows the attachment mqldingjtself to the individual shape of the persons foot;

In FIGURE 4 theportion of the=shoe so as-tto give the same desiredweffecta Minorchanges in shape, size and rearrangementyof 17 is omitted and the; front: end of thegportion-ZG isfirmly anchored deep in ,the shank,

4:. upper, a-sole, a heel-portion and a counter, the improvement consistingin providing an attachmentfor such footwear, said attachment consisting solely of a first portion arranged contiguous to the i' sole of the footwear and secured thereto, said first portion having a front rounded end and arcuate side edges, a second portion arranged rearwardly of said first portionand joined thereto by a fold line, said second portion being, of uniform width throughoutv its entire length,11saicl second. portion being free of attachmentfto, thesole" of'the-footwear, and a third portion arranged contiguous to the rear of the secondportion and joined thereto-by a crease line,- said second and third portions being of the same width, .there I being V-shaped recesses adjacentthe outer ends of the crease line, said third portion having a concave formation, and.a=-plastic back member arranged contiguous to the rear surfaceofsaid third portion; and'securedthereto, said back member-including a lower tapered edge. portion.

2. In a shoe attachment, a 'firstportionhaving a front rounded end and arcuate sideiedges, a second portion arranged rearwardly of said first portion. and joined theretoby afold. line, said second portion being of uniform width throughout its-entire, length,. a, third portion arranged contiguousto the rear oflthesecond portion and.

joined thereto by-acrease. line, there-being .V-shapedrecesses adjacentthe router endsv of the;crea se line,,said second and third portions being of the same width,- said third portionhaving a concave formation, and-.a-back third portion and secured thereto, said back memberhaving;alower -tap. ered;edge portion.

References. Cited .in the. file, ofvthispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS" member arranged contiguous-to the rearsurface of said- 

